Colossians chapter 4 serves as a wonderful reminder that effective gospel ministry is a team effort. Many different friends served both Paul and the cause of Christ during Paul's very fruitful ministry. In many of his inspired epistles the faithful apostle humbly acknowledges his ministry "teammates." It is certainly appropriate that we give "honor to whom honor is due."
As Paul faithfully upheld the truth of God's Word in the trenches of ministry the Lord's bondservant experienced a life full of pain and suffering. Along the way this "spiritual piñata" was given a most loyal friend in doctor Luke. In fact in Colossians 4:14 Paul refers to Luke as "the beloved physician." One can only imagine the practical ways God would have used Luke during Paul's missionary journeys.
In my previous post I described some of the physical ailments that I have experienced during our church revitalization efforts in Freeport. In God's good Providence the Lord provided me with a "beloved Christian physician" as well. Doctor Brian Bennett was the compassionate and gifted doctor that I needed during some of the more challenging and painful valleys in ministry. Doctor Bennett is a faithful church member at another evangelical church in town and so he is uniquely gifted to minister to both body and soul. Dr. Bennett's medical expertise and love for Jesus make him the perfect pastors' physician. In the spirit of Colossian 4:14 this article is dedicated to my ministry partner Dr. Brian Bennett.
